Mozart's Concerto K. 453 enjoyed great popularity during the composer's lifetime and was widely known through copies and a print. The state of the sources is thus multi-faceted yet unequivocal: the primary source is the rediscovered autograph, which was considered lost after 1945 and was not at the disposal of the Neue Mozart-Ausgabe.

The editorial quality of the new edition is guaranteed not only by Schiffs sensitive fingerings and stylistically well-grounded cadenzas, but also by the Mozart scholar Stephan Hörner to whom Henle has entrusted its urtext editions.

Breitkopf/Henle cooperation means: Each work is edited according to predetermined standardized editorial guidelines. First and foremost among the sources consulted were Mozarts handwritten scores, being the most important sources. In some cases they had not been available when the previous editions were being prepared. Moreover, we know today that in addition to Mozarts own manuscripts, early copies in parts and prints also contain important information regarding the musical text.